90 Cheap Meal Ideas

This classic tuna noodle casserole is hearty, creamy and delicious! It is the perfect quick & easy weeknight meal that your family will love!

Pizza grilled cheese is full of mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni and sauce sandwiched between buttery seasoned toasted Italian bread! These tasty sandwiches make the perfect lunch, dinner or snack!

Baked ziti is a delicious, hearty, cheesy, classic comfort food that everyone loves! This baked ziti recipe is meat free so it is perfect for vegetarians and everyone loves it!

These vegetarian sloppy joes are so delicious! They have a delicious sauce, and are made with hearty, protein packed, lentils and chickpeas. They are a great meal for anyone who loves sloppy joes!

Homemade pretzel dogs are a great way to enjoy two of your favorites in one! Delicious chewy, salty soft pretzels wrapped around your favorite hot dog! They make an amazing dinner, lunch or snack! They're way easier than you think!

These twice baked potatoes are everything you want in a loaded baked potato with a creamy cheesy middle. Made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon and chives these potatoes are amazing!!

Here is my recipe for Cheesy Pasta Mostaccioli, made 100% with ingredients from ALDI! I have made this recipe many times at home, especially in the wintertime when it’s sooo cold and everyone is just craving a warm, comforting dish. It’s super easy and quick – way quicker than making a lasagna but just as good!

Pasta with fresh tomatoes – a quick and delicious recipe that will always save the day.

Good, tasty food shouldn’t be this easy – right? Treat yourself to the perfect midweek meal with our creamy, nutty pesto al pasta recipe. When we first went to Italy, we experienced what pesto pasta should really taste like, over the years we’ve experimented and while this isn’t strictly traditional, we think you’ll agree that it’s absolutely delicious!

This easy sausage pasta bake can be made in minutes and is kid-friendly, and costs less than $10!

Chicken Tortilla Soup is a great way to stretch leftover chicken, easily feeding your family dinner for a second night!

The simple white sauce combined with the fried chipped beef, all poured over thick toasted bread, will bring comfort food to any breakfast table.

This Greek Pasta with Garlic and Yogurt is a quick, easy, and frugal dish. It’s simple to make, but loaded with flavor! It is an unexpected use of Greek yogurt and much healthier than a heavy cream sauce. It’s ready in a flash and kids love it!

This spicy, cheesy tomato spinach pasta is a quick and easy vegetarian meal. Melty cheese, tangy olives, tomato sauce and healthy spinach. A simple dinner in a skillet.

This Taco Soup recipe is an easy meal made in on the stovetop or your crockpot using pantry staples! Super nutritious also, to get you through cold and flu season!

This easy gluten free dairy free tomato soup recipe is made with vegan whole food ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes from start to finish! Also fitting for Whole 30.

Cajun Sausage and Rice is easily made in one skillet in 30 minutes or less. It’s simple to make and the leftovers are even better!

Air fryer veggie black bean enchiladas make an easy, quick, weeknight meal that the whole family will love!

Looking for a quick, easy, and healthy meal? These Asian Noodle Bowls can be made with your choice of protein, and whatever veggies happen to be in your fridge!

These Instant Pot Ground Turkey Tacos are ready in 10 minutes, making them perfect for weeknight dinners. Especially Taco Tuesday! 

Made with ground turkey, these Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are perfectly saucy and full of flavor! A quick and easy weeknight option to throw into your rotation

American Goulash is an easy, one-pot, classic comfort food made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. Enjoy year-round, and delicious leftover, this irresistible Goulash Recipe is guaranteed to win over even the pickiest eaters!

This smothered potatoes and sausage recipe is a great option with simple ingredients that you can find in any grocery store.

Egg and Cheese Rolls are inexpensive, easy, kid-friendly, and surprisingly tasty. They are also one of the weirdest meals that your whole family will love.

This pork sausage and rice skillet dinner is a one-pan dinner that is easy to make, delicious, and a breeze to clean up afterward.

Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Sliders are an easy weeknight dinner idea and a fun addition to your game day food menu. And this family favorite is ready in under 40 minutes! 

Cheeseburger Helper from scratch made in one skillet with an easy gluten free option included! This will be the best Cheeseburger Helper you've ever had for dinner! 

This crispy pan fried gnocchi is a simple and quick recipe to make only 20 minutes for an easy weeknight meal. Crispy gnocchi coated in a light sauce made with garlic, herbs, butter and parmesan.

Kielbasa, butter, and garlic give this easy one pot weeknight meal a lot of flavor and rice makes it filling. Perfect for those on a budget!

The whole family is going to go crazy for this recipe for Dorito Casserole. Layers of chips, beans, salsa, and olives sandwiched between sour cream and cheese? What's not to love, it's like snack food for dinner!!

This vegetarian Mexican recipe is a delicious casserole with refried beans, spinach, salsa, and lots of melted cheese! These kicked up flavors will make for an easy meal and leftovers are even better on day two!

A delicious and easy recipe for pasta with broccoli!

These crispy, juicy Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters are ready in 30 minutes and need only a few common pantry ingredients. They are the perfect weeknight dinner! 

This super-tasty slow cooker Hawaiian chicken dish is both sweet and spicy, and so easy to make!

This easy Mexican baked eggs recipe makes for an easy and budget friendly dinner! Bake eggs in a spicy tomato sauce with black beans, corn and poblanos and serve with corn tortillas. It takes less than 30 minutes to get this satisfying vegetarian dinner on the table!

Enjoy the flavors of a slow cooked bean soup in less than an hour thanks to the magic of a pressure cooker! This instant pot black bean soup recipe is simple and budget friendly, and gets a fun upgrade with a sweet-tart fresh mango salsa!

Instant Pot Italian sausage and peppers is a quick & easy recipe. They are great for sandwiches or as is for the best low-carb or gluten-free meal.  

Pasta al Forno is a baked pasta casserole everyone will love. This easy recipe for baked rigatoni has tomato sauce, cheese, and more for a great dinner.  It is a comfort food Italian classic dish.

A delicious lentil, vegan cottage pie, with a mashed potato topping. Naturally gluten-free, super healthy, filling and nutritious.

If you love one-pot wonders, then this skillet chicken pot pie is a must-try. We're all about low-cost family meals. Today I'll show you how to make this skillet pot pie in under an hour for only about $10.00!

Easy 30-Minute Mexican Picadillo is comfort food of ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables. So easy to prepare yet full of flavor for a nutritious dinner.

This green sauce pasta requires less than 10 simple ingredients. It's super creamy, packed with fresh greens and ready within a couple of minutes! You'll only need a blender so it's the perfect sauce when you don't feel like cooking.

This Moroccan Bean Stew (aka Loubia) consists of only a couple of simple ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes. It can easily be made on the stove-top but also in an instant pot. It's the perfect weeknight meal that's bursting with traditional African flavors.

This vegan jambalaya is quick and easy to make, full of spice and flavour and a great one-pot meal. Beans and mushrooms stand in for shrimp and sausage for a totally plant-based, gluten-free and oil-free version of Southern comfort food that’s just as good as the original!

There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of White Bean, Sausage, and Spinach Soup that's been simmering all day in a slow cooker! 

Rich, tomatoey Minestrone Soup recipe loaded with vegetables, beans, and shell pasta. If you like Olive Garden Minestrone vegetable pasta soup, you'll love this easy copycat recipe made for Instant Pot or stove.

Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup is a hands-free, slow cooked chicken soup that tastes like Grandma made it. Boneless chicken thighs, fresh vegetables, chicken broth, and savory seasonings create all the flavor and comfort of classic homemade chicken soup.

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is the epitome of Spring time food – light, zesty, and a burst of freshness in every bite!

I love making this easy sheet pan Sausage and Peppers in the oven! We are simply placing pre-cooked smoked sausage, and seasoned bell peppers and onions on a large full size sheet pan, then sending them into the oven to bake

This Dutch Oven Chicken recipe is simple and succulent. Add potatoes and a whole chicken to a dutch oven for an all-in-one family meal that’s satisfying and delicious. You will love making this effortless dutch oven roast chicken. 

Crockpot Ranch Chicken Casserole is an all-in-one slow cooker meal that’s ready to eat when the day is done. Crock pot ranch chicken is affordable, easy to make, and a true family favorite. Plus it’s a great freezer meal for easy meal prep

This fuss-free sheet pan chicken dinner with veggies is perfect for busy families who still want to eat a healthy, hot meal for dinner. Toss, bake and serve. It really is that easy!

This pasta with zucchini and tomatoes is fresh and flavorful, and it’s the perfect way to enjoy fresh produce. You’ll have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes

We are living in a time when stretching your dollars and pantry staples is important, so I am going to share some delicious cooking basics. This Homemade Skillet Tuna Helper recipe is an easy way to make a quick dinner that is has all of the basics… vegetables, protein, and starches.

An easy and economical dish that everyone will love! A few simple ingredients and you'll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! This Instant Pot Smoked Sausage & Potatoes with Green Beans dish is pure comfort food and everyone will love this delicious one-pot meal.

Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice is an easy 5-ingredient meal that can be on the table in under 30-minutes! This one-pot recipe uses pantry staples that you can mix up with what you have on hand. This dump-and-go recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl is a delicious low carb that comes together in 30 minutes in one pot! A healthy meal that uses ground chicken or pork with coleslaw mix and Asian seasonings come together for a meal that is just as good as takeout!

Officially called creamed chipped beef, it is also more commonly referred to as S.O.S. and remains a popular dish today.

This cheeseburger pie (also called impossible cheeseburger pie) is a perfect meal for a quick weeknight dinner! It is hearty, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned to create a meal your whole family is sure to love!

This is a simple dinner to make during the busy week. It’s something different to mix things up from the regular hamburger steak and gravy. Buttered Noodles, mmmmmm, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love that.

Need a quick, easy recipe for a weeknight meal? This Chicken Rice Pilaf Casserole will fit the bill every time. With only 5 ingredients, it’s the best way to get a meal on the table without any crazy effort

Bisquick taco bake is a cheesy, beef dish your whole family will love. This easy taco casserole features all the best Tex Mex flavors in a quick and easy dinner that feeds a crowd.

This delicious meatless 3-Bean Chili makes a quick, easy and healthy meal that can be made in one pot in less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for those busy weeknights! You can also make up a batch and store it in the freezer for a meal in a pinch! Best vegan chili ever!

15 Bean Soup is a vegetarian bean soup recipe everyone will love! Vegan, high protein, tasty & easily made in the slow cooker, instant pot or on the stove. This is the best bean soup recipe. So hearty, filling and easy to make!

The Best Pasta Fagioli Soup recipe that is better than Olive Garden! Healthy, vegetarian & easy to make on the stove, crockpot or instant pot

With easy dinner ideas like this Crock Pot Taco Soup with Ground Beef you will be equipped for whatever the day throws at you!

All of the flavors you love about a meatball sub sandwich but with an added twist.

Want a one-pan weeknight dinner? This easy One Pan Chicken And Veggies is perfect. Chicken, vegetables, and potatoes cook in a single pan.

Pasta e fagioli, or pasta and beans, is a quick and easy, inexpensive, nutritious and delicious meal that the entire family will enjoy. Children especially love it. Don’t let it’s simplicity fool you; this is an authentic Italian recipe for pasta and beans.

Make juicy baked chicken leg quarters with crispy skin and potatoes for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Made in one pan with a delicious and easy all purpose marinade.

This Vegan Cabbage Soup is the perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. It's easy to make, budget-friendly, and so darn tasty!

Make delicious vegetarian roasted cauliflower tacos with black beans, the perfect weeknight recipe ready in under 45-minutes and with a delicious sour cream, cumin and lime crema.

This slow cooker sausage casserole is the perfect family friendly meal, which is low in cost to buy and cook.

This sausage hotpot recipe is a real family friendly dinner that is pure comfort food.

American Goulash is a classic, old-fashioned comfort food that brings back nostalgic memories. With a twist on traditional German or Hungarian Goulash, this recipe is made with ground beef and elbow macaroni simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. 

Smooth, creamy tomato soup makes the perfect quick lunch or dinner. A piping hot bowl of tomato soup flavorfully spiced with Italian herbs is full of rich flavor on its own, but even tastier when you dip a gooey grilled cheese into the soup.

Savory, juicy slow cooker drumsticks only have five ingredients. It’s a delicious tender chicken dinner that is so kid-friendly and is super easy to make.

Risotto style pasta with pumpkin is a traditional Neapolitan dish known as ‘pasta e cocozza’ in the local dialect. Like many Neapolitan pasta recipes, this is a simple dish originating in what Italians call ‘la cucina povera’, the peasant kitchen. However, despite its simplicity this is one of the most flavourful pasta and pumpkin recipes I know.

An easy and nutritious traditional one-pot vegetarian/vegan pasta and lentil soup recipe from Umbria in Central Italy. An authentic Italian pasta recipe.

We’ve recently started meal planning (makes dinner time SO much easier) and one of our favorite recipes is the spicy Thai noodles seen below.

Moroccan Carrot Red Lentil Soup is a meatless soup recipe packed full of flavor! Cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika and cinnamon compliment the red lentils and carrots, creating a creamy, filling soup. 

Here is an Easy Ramen Stir Fry that even your teenage kids can make and will love this recipe. It is inexpensive, quick, and full of flavor. A hoisin-forward tangy sauce helps kick up the humble ramen to a new level. This recipe makes a great fast lunch, dinner, or side dish. Add some leftovers like chicken, beef, or shrimp for a heartier meal.

This vegan lemon pasta is shockingly flavorful and so easy to make!

For this recipe, less is more: the simplest ingredients make the most delicious, fresh and creamy pasta recipe.

This vegan portobello mushroom burger is packed with flavor and is so easy to make!

This easy vegan potato soup recipe is so simple and easy to make!

It’s packed with natural flavors and fresh herbs, and is the most comforting, yet healthy meal.

When you need a fast dinner, don’t do “take-out”, this Mongolian Beef made with shaved steak is sure to hit the spot, and healthier too. It has the right combination of sweet and spicy with fresh ginger and red pepper flakes. You’re going to love the Mongolian sauce!

This slow cooker vegan chili recipe will delight your taste buds. It’s not only wholesome but delicious and easy to make. A vegan twist on this classic comfort food for those chilly days ahead makes for a healthy dinner packed with nutrients brimming with flavor!

Lancashire potato hash is proper comfort food. This retro dish often called  ‘tattie’ash’, ‘tayter’ash’ or ‘potato ash’ is a one pot classic made with just minced beef, onions, carrots, potatoes and beef stock it’s a very thrifty, economical family dinner. Warming and filling and super easy to make. 

A bowl of Red Lentil Chili is the best bean-centric way to warm up with beans! This thick chili has red lentils, black beans and kidney beans, and is completely vegan.

A simple 4-ingredient meal that can be thrown together any time of day, Black Bean Quesadillas are here for you! This recipe uses simple pantry staples, and you're going to love customizing these to your taste. Grab your favorite jar of salsa, a can of black beans, some cheese and your favorite tortillas!